10. Hong Shixian, what are you doing with her!?
Since I wanted to maintain a good relationship with the queen, find opportunities to gather intel on the new fairy, and avoid being lured into the queen’s trap of having to fulfill any request she made, I figured I shouldn’t engage in any transactions with her from the start. Instead, I could ask the queen for help under the guise of “assistance,” which would give me the upper hand, right!?
For the first time, I had outsmarted the cunning Queen Louise IV with such a little trick. I felt incredibly proud as I tied the two pieces of fabric for her. When I walked around in front of the queen, I was no longer shy or nervous; my gaze was even a bit more arrogant than usual.
“……”
This time, the queen surely wouldn’t find any excuse to retort. I just wanted to see her surprised expression, those blinking eyes, looking at me in confusion!
Just seconds ago, I thought this way, but the next moment, the script hit me, and I immediately began to feel embarrassed about my recent actions.
[Queen Louise IV is very happy.]
Huh? The queen’s reaction seems a bit off, doesn’t it!? Could it be that…
“Hoho~” With a light laugh, the queen poked my chest with her hand, “You naughty boy.”
Had the queen already caught on to my little trick in such a short time!? And…
“Don’t use such strange wording!”
That sounded just like we were hiding behind the rocks in the sea, doing something shameful while Kefer was away!
Hmm~ Let’s change it up.” The queen shifted from her earlier seriousness, seemingly regaining her usual vitality, her finger resting on her lips as she struck a thoughtful pose.
“You rascal~”
“I give up, spare me, Your Majesty.”
“Then do me a favor, O’Keefe.”
This time, the queen didn’t beat around the bush but directly revealed her purpose for dragging me to this vacation spot.
“O’Keefe, do you remember where this is?”
This is Glamorgan Castle, located in the southern part of the Great Yng Empire, a true vacation paradise. The tourism industry here is so prosperous that the lordship has yet to be determined. Instead, a council similar to the Great Yng Empire’s parliament has been formed, composed of several nobles within Glamorgan Castle and representatives from major merchant guilds to govern together.
Among them, the most powerful is a noble scion—Glamorgan II. His name, like the castle, comes from his family’s long-standing nobility in Glamorgan. However, since his father, Count Glamorgan, has attained a new rank in the Great Yng Empire, he can no longer be the lord of Glamorgan Castle.
Now that Glamorgan II has come of age and is at the point where he can claim noble status independent of his father, this ambitious little brat wants to escape the current shared governance of Glamorgan Castle and vie for the lordship.
“However, this puts me in a bit of a bind, because if that’s the case, I won’t be able to continue controlling the people I’ve arranged in Glamorgan Castle.”
After the introduction, the queen pretended to express her troubles. Speaking of which…
“I can’t believe you can arrange people here…”
What responded to me was the queen, along with a wink, and with her current swimsuit, she looked even more dazzling, “This is basic operation, you know~ The person I arranged in Glamorgan Castle is a noble young lady. O’Keefe, in just a few days, Glamorgan II will start preparing to contest for the lordship. I hope you can help this young lady out a bit. At the very least, don’t let Glamorgan II succeed. If we can get this young lady to become the lord, that would be best. As a reward, I can spend a ‘memorable night’ with you~”
I don’t need that kind of night!
[Queen Louise IV hopes O’Keefe will help.]
The script had appeared, and the queen’s purpose was undoubtedly the same as before. In the past, I would have felt too threatened to speak up, but this time, since I held the initiative, I could voice my inner doubts.
“Why don’t you come yourself?”
With the methods of Louis IV, using a few underhanded tricks, not to mention getting her appointed people into power, it would be a piece of cake to deal with that so-called II. Why did she have to rely on me, this unreliable person, to help? And for that, I ended up with an excuse?
“His father, the Duke of Glamorgan II, is in the capital of the Great Yng Empire, you know. If I act too hastily, it could be quite troublesome.” The queen blinked, “So it’s better to let an outsider handle this; then I can cover it up nicely~”
You’re just looking for a scapegoat, aren’t you, Your Majesty!
I pursed my lips in silence. This so-called “help” was really just taking the fall, fulfilling the queen’s ambitions. If I could, I certainly wouldn’t want to get involved in her sinister schemes, but unfortunately… I really did have something to ask of her…
Fortunately, the initiative was in my hands this time; I still had some room to choose. Otherwise, I would have been dragged into a pit by the queen.
“I beg you, O’Keefe~”
“Don’t push your chest in front of me…” I quickly averted my gaze. “I’ll look into the situation for you, Your Majesty, but… I haven’t agreed to anything directly, so don’t expect too much from my actions later.”
That was my answer. After all, I was completely in the dark about the “struggle for the lordship” the queen mentioned. It was better to hold off than to agree just because I caught a glimpse of her ample bosom.
That said, the queen’s reaction surprised me, as the previous script seemed to repeat itself.
[Louis IV is very happy.]
“That’s enough. I believe you, O’Keefe, will make the right judgment when the time comes.”
Let’s not even mention the queen’s strange trust in me; the next moment, even though she was already dressed in her swimsuit, she squeezed right in front of me, her two ample mounds pressing against my chest, standing on tiptoe, looking up at me with a hint of smugness.
“So, really, don’t you want to ‘experience’ it a little? We’re hiding behind the rocks now; no one will see us, no matter what we do. No·mat·ter·what~”
“Hiss…”
I suddenly felt my breath quicken, stunned for a moment, and hurriedly pushed the queen away!
“Absolutely not! We’re not doing anything like a physical transaction! Your Majesty, be serious!”
“Hehe, then let’s hurry back~”
The queen’s smile became even more radiant, “Because Kephir is about to return~ Moriarty just told me quietly~”
What… Kephir is coming back, and you just said that to me!?
Are you really trying to ambush me in a place like this!?
“Louis IV!! Just wait!”
“Haha~ Run faster~ or we won’t make it in time~”
I had no choice but to grab the queen’s arm, pulling her along as she laughed all the way back.
Finally, just before Kephir returned to the beach, we lay back on our respective chairs, panting, and met Kephir’s gaze.
“Divine fool, your body is really out of shape; how can you be panting just from lying down? Huh? Why do you look tired too, Your Highness?”
“Kephir~ that’s because…”
“That’s because I just played a bit of beach volleyball with the queen! Kephir, do you… want to join us?”
I hurriedly interrupted the queen’s potentially dangerous statement, then glanced nervously at her chest.
Well, in a sense, I really was playing volleyball just now…
As for the queen’s request regarding the “new fairy” intelligence, I’ll find a time to discuss it with Kephiel and then agree to take a look at the “lord contest” in Glamorgan Castle for the queen.